Method for shipping of food, especially eggs



Oct. 18, 1927.. 1,645,813

J. LAWLER METHOD FOR SHIPPING OF FOOD ESPECIALLY EGGS Fil ed May 23, 1926 INVENTOR .TOfi/A/LAWLER m' 2 r E M ,4 TTOR/VEY Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN LAWLER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

METHOD FOR SHIPPING OF FOOD, ESPECIALLY EGGS.

Application filed May 26, 1926. Serial No. 111,812.

This invention relates to the shipping of food products in railroad cars especially eggs from points of production to points of distribution. and the objects of the invention are to provide a method and means for betfor control of the humidity of the interior of the egg cars than heretofore obtaining.

In the commercial shipping of eggs in cars over long distances, especially in transcontinental shipments, the proper control of humidity is an important factor in determining the weight and quality of the eggs at destination, and owing to the humidity re quirements for different kinds of food products through the atmospheric conditions met with from the cold to the hot months, a satisfactory solution of the problem easily carried out in the present refrigerator cars has thus far been lacking, and it is to meet the requirements that I have evolved the improved system herein described.

In the drawing accompanying this application the figure is a cross section of a railroad freight car loaded with eggs for shipment. The car is of the refrigerator type with heat insulated walls and provided with the usual refrigerating compartment and ventilating means common to such cars not shown in the drawing as forming no part of the present invention.

The car 1 is shownloaded, with standard egg cases 2 usually piled five tiers high and eight rows in the width of the car as shown.

Above the cases is an air space to the ceil ing of the car measuring several feet, and it.

is preferably in this space where I apply my humidifying means.

The humidifying means consist of a plurality of individual porous bags 3 of water hung from the car structure on hooks 4, the hooks being arranged preferably in rows along both sides of the car and the bags being easily placed in position or removed with a forked pole whether the car is loaded with egg cases or not.

The bags are of known construction as used by travelers in hot countries, they are usually made of heavy canvas and though watertight permit a constant slow seepage through their porous walls with constant evaporation from the outside of the walls, yet without dripping.

In suspending the bags it is desirable that they be free from contact with the walls of thecar so as to give free circulation of air around the walls of the bag and to gain the full effect of evaporation from its surface.

Themethod disclosed, while appearing to be of the utmost simplicity, is at the same time one of particular value to the egg ship per, for it meets all conditions of practicability without change in car construction, and on account of the bags constituting evaporating units of known surface capacity each, a definite number hung in the car under definite outside temperature and humidity conditions easily ascertained, will always produce a definite result yet with no attention whatever.

Thus from a simple table made out after a few trials at different seasons of the year, the proper number of bags may be hung up in the car to produce the required result without guessing at it, and the bags being unbreakable may swing or bump the sides of the lurching car without possibility of breakage or spilling their contents to cause a change in the humidity conditions determined upon for the particular shipment.

The method of humidification of moving food storage conveyances by means of bags while especially applicable to egg shipments may also have considerable value in the humidifying of meats, vegetables and other food products in cool storage and I there fore claim:

1. In the commercial shipment of eggs, the I control of humidity conditions through humidifying units applied to the air space over the eggs in shipment.

2. In the commercial shipment of eggs in railroad cars, the suspension of a plurality of porous waterbags freely in the air space in the car at points above the eggs. I

3. In the commercial shipment of eggs in cars, the suspension of a plurality of porous waterbags above the eggs in the car, said bags being of substantially equal evaporating surface so as to form units of known evaporation capacity and hung freely on hooks to the car for easy removal for changing the humidity conditions of the car by removal or addition of be s J (II-IN LAWLER. 

